Fire and Smoke Damage: What to Do in the First 24 Hours

In the first minutes after a house fire, your only job is safety. Get everyone out, call 911, and stay out until the fire department confirms the structure is safe to enter. Once you are clear, call your insurance company to open a claim and call a 24/7 restoration team to secure the property before soot, water, and weather cause more damage. The steps below walk you through the full first 24 hours in the GTA.

A fire is one of the most disorienting things that can happen to a home. Even a small kitchen or electrical fire leaves behind smoke, soot, and water from firefighting that keep damaging the building long after the flames are out. Firstline Restoration is a licensed, insured, and WSIB-covered emergency team with a 5-star Google rating and a 45-minute response time across the GTA. This guide explains exactly what to do, in order, so you protect your family, your home, and your insurance claim.

First priority: stay safe and do not re-enter until it is cleared

Nothing else on this list matters until everyone is safe. Fire damage weakens structures in ways you cannot see from the outside, and the air inside can still be dangerous even when there is no visible flame.

• Get every person and pet out of the building and move to a safe distance.
• Call 911. Let the fire department confirm the fire is fully out.
• Do not go back inside for belongings until firefighters or an official tell you it is safe.
• Stay away from sagging ceilings, charred floors, and anything structural that looks compromised.
• Do not turn the power, gas, or water back on yourself. Wait for a professional to check the systems.

Smoke can leave the air and surfaces unsafe to breathe around for hours. When you do re-enter, keep it brief, avoid disturbing soot, and wash your hands afterward. If anyone feels unwell, seek medical attention.

Contact your insurance company

Once your family is safe, call your insurer as soon as you can, ideally within the first day. Opening the claim early gets an adjuster assigned, starts any coverage you may have for temporary lodging, and puts you in a better position to have the work handled quickly.

• Call the claims line on your policy or your broker and report the fire.
• Write down your claim number and the name of the adjuster.
• Ask what your policy covers for additional living expenses if you cannot stay in the home.
• Ask whether the insurer allows you to choose your own restoration company. In most cases you can.

You are entitled to pick who restores your home. A good restoration team works directly with your adjuster and offers direct insurance billing, so you pay only your deductible rather than fronting the full cost. Our insurance page explains how that process works and what to expect from your claim.

Secure the property with emergency board-up and roof tarping

After a fire, your home is often left open to the weather and to anyone walking by. Broken windows, burned-through walls, and holes in the roof let in rain, wind, and animals, and they leave your belongings exposed. Securing the building quickly is one of the most important things you can do in the first 24 hours, and most insurance policies expect you to prevent further damage where you reasonably can.

• Board up broken windows, doors, and wall openings to keep the structure closed.
• Tarp any holes in the roof so rain does not pour into fire-weakened areas.
• Restrict access so no one enters an unsafe building.

Our team handles emergency board-up and roof tarping as part of fire damage restoration, often on the same visit, so the property is stable before the next rain or overnight.

Why soot and smoke keep causing damage after the fire is out

The fire being out does not mean the damage has stopped. Smoke and soot leave behind an acidic residue that keeps eating into surfaces for hours and days. This is why fast professional cleaning matters, and why wiping things down yourself can sometimes make it worse by grinding soot deeper into materials.

• Soot residue is acidic and can etch or discolour metal, glass, countertops, and appliances.
• Smoke odour soaks into drywall, insulation, fabric, and wood and lingers if not treated properly.
• Fine soot travels through the HVAC system and settles in rooms that never saw flame.
• Water used to fight the fire soaks into floors and walls and can lead to mould if it is not dried out.

Because firefighting almost always leaves standing water and saturated materials, fire jobs frequently involve water damage restoration at the same time. Drying the structure quickly is part of protecting the parts of your home the fire never touched.

Protect and document your contents

Before anything gets cleaned up or thrown out, document the damage. Your photos and notes are the backbone of your insurance claim, and thorough records help make sure you are fairly compensated for what was lost.

• Take photos and video of every damaged room and item before moving anything.
• Make a written list of damaged belongings with rough values and purchase dates if you know them.
• Keep receipts for anything you buy while displaced, such as lodging, food, and clothing.
• Set aside undamaged valuables and important documents in a safe, dry place.
• Do not throw out damaged items until your adjuster has reviewed them, unless they are a safety hazard.

Many smoke-damaged items can be cleaned and restored rather than replaced. A restoration team can pack out, clean, deodorize, and store contents while the structure is repaired.

What restoration involves

Full fire restoration is a staged process, not a single clean. It moves from stabilizing the property to removing damage to rebuilding, and a good team keeps you and your adjuster informed at every step.

• Assessment of structural, smoke, soot, and water damage throughout the home.
• Water extraction and drying of anything saturated during firefighting.
• Removal of unsalvageable burned and soaked materials.
• Soot and residue cleaning of surfaces, contents, and the HVAC system.
• Odour removal and deodorizing so the smoke smell does not linger.
• Repairs and rebuild to return your home to how it was before the fire.

Keeping soot, smoke, and moisture out of your living space also matters for a comfortable home afterward. See our healthy home guide for what to watch for once you move back in.

First 24 hours checklist

Timing	What to do	Why it matters
First minutes	Get everyone out, call 911, stay out	Lives come first and the structure may be unsafe
Once cleared	Do not restore power, gas, or water yourself	Damaged systems can be dangerous
First few hours	Call your insurer and open a claim	Assigns an adjuster and starts your coverage
First few hours	Call a 24/7 restoration team	Board-up and tarping stop further damage
Same day	Photograph and list all damage	Supports your insurance claim
Same day	Secure valuables and documents	Protects what survived the fire
Within 24 hours	Start water extraction and drying	Limits mould and secondary damage

Frequently asked questions

Can I go back into my home after a fire?

Not until the fire department or another official confirms it is safe. Even after a small fire, the structure can be weakened and the air can still hold smoke and soot. When you do go in, keep it brief and avoid disturbing soot-covered surfaces.

Should I clean up the soot and smoke myself?

It is best not to. Soot residue is acidic, and wiping it with the wrong method can grind it deeper into surfaces and spread it further. Professional cleaning removes it safely and helps prevent lasting stains and odour.

Will my insurance cover fire and smoke damage restoration?

Most home policies cover fire and smoke damage, including securing and restoring the property. Call your insurer to confirm your coverage and deductible. Many restoration companies, including us, offer direct insurance billing so you pay only your deductible.

How fast can a restoration team get to my property in the GTA?

Firstline Restoration offers a 45-minute emergency response across the GTA, 24/7. Fast arrival means board-up, tarping, and drying can start sooner, which limits how much further damage the smoke, soot, and water can do.

Dealing with fire or smoke damage right now? Firstline Restoration is available 24/7 with a 45-minute emergency response across the GTA. We are licensed, insured, and WSIB-covered with a 5-star Google rating, and we work directly with your insurer. Contact us for emergency help and we will secure your property and start restoration right away.